Esther

Esther 1 ©

1 Ahasuerus's royal feasts. 10 Vashti refuseth to come, when sent for by the king. 13 The king consulteth with his wise men concerning this act of disobedience, and by the advice of Memucan putteth away Vashti, and asserteth by a decree the sovereignty of the men over their own wives.

1

NOW it came to pass in the days of aAhasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto bEthiopia, cover an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

a Ezr. 4.6. Da. 9.1. Ezr. 6; 7.
b 2Ki. 19.9.
c Ps. 17.14; 37.35. Da. 6.1. ch. 8.9; 9.30.
2

That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus dsat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in eShushan the palace,

d 2Sa. 7.1. Pr. 16.16.
e Ne. 1.1. Da. 8.2.
3

In the third year of his reign, he made fa feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

f Ec. 10.19. 2Sa. 3.20. 1Ki. 3.15. Da. 5.1. Mar. 6.21. Lu. 14.13.
4

When he gshewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

g Is. 39.2. Da. 4.30. 1Sa. 25.36.
5

And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were 1present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of hthe garden of the king's palace;

h ch. 7.7,8.
6

Where were white, green, and 2blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the ibeds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of 3red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

i ch. 7.8. Eze. 23.41. Am. 2.8; 6.4. Jn. 13.23.
7

And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and 4royal wine in jabundance, 5according to the state of the king.

j Jn. 2.6-10.
8

And the drinking was according to the law; none did 6compel: for so the king khad appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

k Jn. 2.8.
9

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

10

¶On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was lmerry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, mHarbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven 7chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

l 2Sa. 13.28. Ec. 10.19; 7.2,3. Jude 12.
m ch. 7.9.
11

To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the ncrown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was 8fair to look on.

n ch. 2.17; 6.8.
12

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment 9by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very *wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13

¶Then the king said to the owise men, pwhich knew the times, (for so was the king's *manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

o Je. 10.7. Da. 2.12,13. Mat. 2.1.
p 1Ch. 12.32.
14

And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the qseven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

q Ezr. 7.14. Pr. 11.14. 2Ki. 25.19.
15

10What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

16

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not rdone wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

r 1Co. 6.7,8.
17

For this deed of the queen shall come *abroad unto all women, so that they sshall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

s 2Sa. 6.16. Ep. 5.33.
18

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

19

11If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment 12from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the tMedes, 13that it be not altered, That Vashti ucome no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate 14unto another that is better than she.

t 2Ki. 17.6.
u Pr. 18.13; 27.4.
20

And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall vgive to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

v Ep. 5.22,23,33. 1Pe. 3.1-7. Col. 3.18.
21

And the saying 15pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22

For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and 16that it should be published according to the language of every people.